FAB AWARDS 2023
Recognising the best of the travel food & beverage industry
As a myriad of boats made their way along the adjacent Chao Phraya River, FAB delegates gathered at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort terrace for the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards, the culmination of the two-day event.
Champagne was served under the stars before a bell chimed to summon Thai dancers, who glided onto the stage with silk chiffon wings. Guests received honey-scented malai chum rai, frangipani good luck garlands – as awards anticipation grew.
The party atmosphere began on the FAB executive coaches and carried on long into the night. Guests were enchanted by traditional Thai dancers while enjoying a delicious local menu of prawn wraps on sugarcane, Tom Yum soup, sea bass with tamarind sauce and dragon fruit platters, courtesy of host Airports of Thailand.
Welcoming guests to the glittering gala dinner, The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie declared: “I can promise you a truly FABulous evening.” He went on to thank host Airports of Thailand (AOT) for its generosity, before introducing AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat (pictured with Moodie, below) to the stage.
Kerati declared that F&B services were both integral to and expansive at the company’s six airports.
“The FAB Conference brought up many interesting topics, especially the rebound of the food & beverage community,” he said.
“I believe airports and food & beverage have a very good, symbiotic relationship. Which makes it a very exciting time for me to say that, in terms of international passenger traffic, we have reached about 70% recovery here in Thailand following the COVID pandemic – and that is only rising. We hope that by the end of the year we should be up to almost +100% compared to 2019.
“In Thailand we take care of six major airports and have almost 100% recovery in terms of domestic flights. As for Suvarnabhumi Airport, we will soon open the new Satellite One, which will increase passenger space by about 200,000 square metres. We will also have an additional 20,000 square metres of F&B space, which will open up new opportunities for shops, restaurants, lounges and many other activities.
“We are also planning to increase the space at Don Mueang Airport, where we will build a new international terminal,” Kerati continued. “And we are building international terminals in Phuket and Chiang Mai as well. So I would like to use this event to say, look at Thailand and these wonderful new investment opportunities and work with us, friend-to-friend.
“And last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Martin Moodie and team on the great success of his F&B event and to say well done in advance to all of you who win tonight.”
Representing our generous hosts Airports of Thailand were (left to right) Executive Vice President, Foreign Affairs Office, Saranya Boonyawattana; President Kerati Kijmanawat; and Executive Board Member Flt Lt Pokpong Suwanmolee
FAB eZine
January 2024
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